Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting

The annual forum of Antarctic Treaty parties that consult on governance, exchange information, and adopt measures for the Antarctic Treaty System.

Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties: States with consultative status under the Antarctic Treaty, including its original signatories and parties conducting substantial Antarctic research. These states participate fully in the meeting and adopt its measures by consensus.
Antarctic Treaty: The 1959 international agreement that reserves Antarctica for peaceful purposes and establishes a framework for cooperation and scientific freedom. Its Article IX establishes regular meetings of the treaty parties.
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty: The 1991 agreement that designates Antarctica a natural reserve and establishes comprehensive environmental protection obligations. Consultative Meeting negotiations developed the protocol and continue to address its implementation.
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources: The commission established by the 1980 convention to conserve Antarctic marine living resources and manage related fisheries. It governs marine living resources through a separate convention, though its work intersects with treaty discussions.
Antarctic Treaty System: The treaties, agreements, and institutions governing international activity in Antarctica. The meeting is a central forum within this wider governance system.
International Geophysical Year: A coordinated international scientific program held from 1957 to 1958, including extensive research in Antarctica. Its Antarctic cooperation helped create the conditions for treaty negotiations and later consultation.
Antarctic environmental impact assessment: The process for evaluating potential environmental effects of activities planned in Antarctica. Meeting guidelines help parties apply treaty and protocol requirements to proposed activities.
Committee for Environmental Protection: The expert committee established by the environmental protocol to advise Consultative Meeting parties on environmental protection. It supports the meeting on environmental matters but does not replace the parties’ decision-making forum.
Consensus decision-making: A process in which decisions are adopted without a formal objection from any participating party. Consultative Meeting measures are adopted by consensus among the parties with decision-making status.
Antarctic Treaty negotiations: The 1958–1959 diplomatic negotiations that produced the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty’s negotiators designed the consultative process that the meeting continues.

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